"For You Blue" Overdub and Mixes

The George Harrison song "For You Blue" was originally a feature on the Glyn Johns tape line up on the latest attempt of the "Get Back/Let It Be" sessions. A copy was given to each Beatle and George Harrison decided at some point that he didn't like his lead vocal and that he would overdub a new vocal.
On January 08 1970, this was accomplished in the evening. The studio used for this overdub was at Olympic Studios in Barnes, England. George also ad-libbed his way through the slide and piano solos and the song ends with George saying "Rhythm and Blues".... The song at this point and on the same evening was mixed by Glyn Johns and overdub became the official vocal.
Later in the year on February 28, and for some unknown reason, Malcolm Davies over at EMI re-mixed the song once again. This was not used.
Finally, a month later Phil Spector came in and re-mixed the song once again in stereo for the "Let It Be" project. After the acoustic guitar intro, the instrument disappears and emphasis is on the piano, John's slide and the drums with the new vocal centered. This final mix by Spector would be used on the Apple LP/CD "Let It Be".

Enhanced "Let It Be"

There are two versions of "Let It Be". One is the Glyn Johns Mix and is available on the Apple 45 single, the "1967-1970" compilation as well as the "Past Masters" compilation. The second version and different Phil Spector mix (with a different guitar solo from George) was commercially released on the Apple LP/CD "Let It Be".
On January 04 1970, with Paul, Linda, George and Ringo present the enhancement of the song was recorded by adding some brass overdubs, some cellos (not heard but "felt" on the second mix). Other overdubs included Paul replacing the first version's bass playing which was originally played by John. Two significant overdubs were also added: Some high backing vocals from Paul, George and Linda (the only time Linda appears singing on a Beatles record) as well as a heavy distorted guitar solo from George replacing the tremolo solo on the first version. Percussion overdubs included maracas and extra drum fills at the end during the descending riff (on which Paul added a rhodes piano to double the grand piano).
All of this can be heard on the Phil Spector mix from the LP. Another significant difference is the fact that the end of the song is edited in order to add another pass at the final chorus just before the end riff. There is also a tape delay on the high-hats added during the second verse on the second version.
So there you have it: first version (Glyn Johns mix) with the tremolo guitar solo, shorter song, minimal backing vocals, no brass, no Linda) and second version (heavy guitar, additional chorus, backing vocals with Linda, brass, maracas, Rhodes piano at the end).

"I Me Mine" Recording Session.

During 1969 and going into 1970, work continued on editing the upcoming "Let It Be" film and it was decided to have the recordings reflect the soundtrack heard on the film. This is why the song "Teddy Boy" was eventually dropped from the soundtrack line up and "Across The Universe" was added. The only song missing that was not professionally recorded at Apple or elsewhere was the George Harrison song: "I Me Mine".
So it is that George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr gathered in Studio 2 of EMI in London to complete the recording of the song. John Lennon was in Denmark at this time, so he didn't join the group for this session. George Martin was present as well as the engineer Phil McDonald (who also worked on "Abbey Road). Glyn Johns was also present but had no role in the actual recording of the song.
It took 16 takes to get the song right with George on acoustic, Paul on bass and Ringo on drums. George also sang a guide vocal during the takes. Take sixteen was used as the basic track.
Overdubs include electric piano and hammond organ being played by Paul, more acoustic and lead guitar by George as well as a new lead vocal (doubled and assisted by Paul in the chorus). There are a few mixes out there besides the official one: two days after the recording Glyn Johns mixed the song in stereo (pre-editing) whereby he used the count-in from a different take and adding some chat at the beginning of the track. Another version includes the count - in and take announcement from the original take 16 - this can be found on the "File Under" Beatles vinyl bootleg or on the CD bootleg "Acetates".
There is also a version of the song for the Apple 3 LP/2 CD "Anthology 3" which uses some dialogue recorded before take 15 from George commenting on the absence of John and the song is remixed bringing down the keyboards and bringing up George's electric guitar. This version is also pre-edit.

Live At The Lyceum

There was a concert organized to benefit the charity organization UNICEF that announced there would be an appearance by John, Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band. The concert would take place at the Lyceum Ballroom in London on December 15 1969. Geoff Emerick from EMI was asked to record some of the concert on four track tape for possible release.
The main reason for the concert was to promote both the "War Is Over" John and Yoko campaign as well as promoting the latest Apple single "Cold Turkey"/"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow". The members of the band contacted were Eric Clapton, Kalus Voorman and Alan White but Eric Clapton decided to bring some of the members of the Delaney and Bonnie Band with him including George Harrison, Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett, Jim Gordon, Billy Preston, Bobby Keys and even Keith Moon was on hand among others !!
The recording consisted of the entire crew bashing away on both sides of the single with the original B-Side (Don't Worry Kyoko) lasting over 40 minutes as a jam session. The song as released is heavily edited.
Stereo mixes of the two songs were prepared two days later on December 17 but they were deemed not good enough for release.
In October 1971 during the "Happy Xmas" session at the Record Plant East in New York City, the tapes were brought over and Nicky Hopkins added some keyboards to replace Billy Preston's supposedly "buried" track and some vocals were probably added as well. The original idea was to release the two songs as part of a "Live Jam" LP but plans changed and the tunes were finally released on the bonus Live LP included with the "Sometime In New York City" Apple LP/CD.